Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1887-09-03
Be a Man.

"We are led to believe, from the
silence Of the Custer CHRONICLE, that it
does not believe in the newspapers of
the county fighting the crooked"
officials OF the county. 1t has not yet
spoken one word condemning or pro-
tecting Frye in his late actions. Be a
man and speak out if you have an opin-
ion, il you have none then we quietly
consider the source of your silence"
The above, clipped from the Buffalo
Gap News Of the 25th nit, is only one Of
series of sententious structures appear
ing in that sheet, calling in question the
CHRONICLES course in refusing to unite
with either of the two belligerent fac
tons which have kept the town Of
Buffalo Gap in state of turbulent com
motion for several months. These brief,
but oft repeated references to our course
in this matter, have, by their apparent
endless repetition, Lad the effect OF
producing weariness on our part, and
with view TO their early suspension,
and the substitution of matter of higher
importance to the innumerable readers
Of that journalistic watchdog of official
conduct, we have concluded to submit
a brief reply. 1t is not little surpris-
ing that we should be censured by the
News for failing to unite with that sheet
in the abuse of w. III. Frye, who was a
short time since held up by that paper
as a man of unquestioned ability and
peculiar fitness for the official position
he now occupies, and whose interests
during the last political campaign it so
persistently championed. But strange
as it may appear, it is nevertheless true.
and while the CHRONICLE cannot ad-
visedly assist in besmirching his official
character, we will at least submit our
reasons for not doing So.
In the first place we have been un-
able to definitely determine the validity
of the charges preferred by the News
against the party in question. We have
been earnest and persistent in our
efforts to reach the true status of this
essentially Buffalo Gap affair, but have
failed to arrive at settled conclusion,
by reason of the conflicting character Of
the statements received. 1t is fact,
patent to all, that two distinct factions
exist at Buffalo Gap; that the feeling
between these factions is of thY most
bitter and vindictive character and
that the statements made by one faction
with reference to the matter at issue
can in no case be confirmed by the other
hence tue uiliicuity ia arriving at just
conclusions with reference to the
charges preferred. The CHRONICLE is
disposed to approve the right, and
censure the wrong in all cases; reserv-
ing the right however to judge for itself
as TO the measure Of confidence which
may be safely placed in the statements
of county paper committed TO one side
of local question, involving the char
acter of public official.
The News will readily appreciate the
difficulty of deciding question, the
earnest affirmation of which by the one
side is only equalled by the persistent
denial of the other; and will doubtless
be charitable enough to restore us to
the plane Of manhood, until such time
as we have forfeited all right to that
honorable distinction by failure on
our part to publicly censure manifest
wrong.